West’s Lakers—which included Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich, Elgin Baylor and, yes, Heat president Pat Riley—navigated the 17-team NBA with ease, going 69-13 while averaging 121.0 points per game and outscoring opponents by an average of more than 12 points. Further indication of their dominance: During their winning streak, only eight of the 33 games ended in single-digit wins, including a seven-point defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks team that later ended the Lakers' run.

On the other hand, during this season’s streak, the Heat have maintained a winning margin of only 10 points against non-playoff teams and faced five double-digit deficits. Miami's mid-game struggles managed to add new lows to LeBron James' career, with the 27-point Cavaliers lead equaling the most points he has trailed at any time since entering the NBA. Of course, that advantage was met with a thrilling Heat comeback.

“They’ve played some close games this year,” West said of the Heat, “but our games really weren’t close.”

While close wins mean more exertion from key players, West doesn’t see a problem. He’s impressed by it, in fact. West watched Miami turn it on against Cleveland and saw a team capable of eclipsing the Lakers’ record. And when he looks at the schedule, West figures few remaining teams are capable of defeating the Heat, whether the games dictate close finishes or not.

“Honestly, I think they’ve got an incredible chance to do it,” West said. “I really do. And people say to me, ‘Does it bother you?’ Absolutely not. I think it’s great for the league, and I’m delighted obviously for my friend Pat Riley to be able to maybe replicate this not only as an executive but as a player. It’s pretty special.

“If they would break it, my gosh, I think it would be a wonderful story. I have no problem with that.”

“That would be a game that I would be concerned about,” West said. “Certainly playing in San Antonio, and they’re going to have Tony Parker back by then."

When the Lakers’ streak ended Jan. 9, 1972, at Milwaukee in a 120-104 defeat, the Bucks made 14 more field goals (49 to 35) and got 39 points from future Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“I think all of us went in the locker room and felt like we had lost our best friend,” West said.

If a Heat loss does come, West expects a similar formula to be behind their first defeat since Feb. 1.

“I think it’s going to take a combination of a team that’s shooting the ball well that also has the capability to defend, to beat them,” West said. “And obviously a poor shooting night on Miami’s part.”

Assuming it were to avoid any potential traps, Miami could break the Lakers’ record April 9 against Milwaukee.

“A lot of people don’t think those things are possible,” West said. “Well, they are possible. And I think particularly in basketball you can get a unique team, and Miami has a unique team. They have great three-point shooting and they’re never out of a game because of that, and then they have the best player in the game who does all the little things.

“I never thought this streak would live forever, no. … I just think it’s a streak that could very easily be broken this year.”